How to Wear a Surgical Mask?

You can learn how to wear a surgical mask and how to use masks to protect yourself from the virus in detail from our article.


Surgical mask entered our lives with the pandemic. After the corona virus that emerged in 2019, it has become mandatory to wear masks in public and open spaces. Thanks to the structure of the fabric of the mask, the spread of the virus is prevented by filtering. Most people think that they wear the mask to avoid getting the virus, but it also prevents the virus from spreading from the breath we exhale. All types of masks have different ways of use and sets. Proper use is very important to prevent the spread of the disease.


  • Before putting on the mask, we must first disinfect our face and hands. In order to completely disinfect your hands, you should take into account the warning of the experts and clean with soap for 20 seconds.

  • You should pay attention to which surface of the mask should be outside and which surface should be inside. The folded surface should face out, while the metal strip on the top should fit over the nose.

  • You should place the elastics on both sides of the mask so that they grasp your ears from behind. If there is a gap between the ear and the mouth, you can bend the sides or wrap the elastic around your ear twice to prevent air from entering.

  • If you are using a rope mask, not an elastic one, you should wear the mask by passing the ropes over your head.

  • The metal strip on the mask can be uncomfortable. To prevent this, you can fix the strip by pressing it with your hand so that it fully grasps your nose.

  • The purpose of the mask is to prevent air entry so that there is no space around the mouth and nose area. Therefore, keeping your nose and sides open while using the mask will not protect you completely.


Surgical Mask Usage Period


The duration of use of the masks varies according to the type. The usage time of surgical masks, also known as white masks, is 5 hours on average. Of course, this period is valid when you use the mask correctly. If disposable surgical masks are used continuously, they will not protect you and will seriously put your health at risk. You should change the mask as much as possible, especially in public and crowded areas.


How to Wear a Surgical Mask?


Things to Consider While Buying a Surgical Mask


There are some points to consider when buying a surgical mask. These;


  • First you need to pay attention to the fabric of the mask. The fabric should be filtering and approved by the Ministry of Health. In the market, too many low-quality and non-protective masks are produced for commercial purposes. For this reason, we recommend that you pay attention to buying well-known brands and reading the mask features on the back of the box.

  • It is important that the mask has 3 layers. Those with 3 floors will protect you better and prevent the spread of the virus.

  • Metal wire bothers many. But the metal wire ensures that the nose part is fully closed. For this reason, the masks you will buy must have metal wire in them.

  • The most disturbing parts of the masks are the string or rubber parts. Threads or elastics can irritate and tighten behind the ears. To avoid this situation, you can choose masks with adjustable rope or elastic.

  • Masks are usually produced in standard sizes. Although standard sizes are suitable for most face types, they may be too large or small for some. You can find the most suitable mask size for your face by trial and error method.

  • One of the other points to consider when buying a mask is the age range of the person who will use the mask. You should get the small-sized mask variants, especially for children. Large sizes do not provide full protection for children.


How to Remove Surgical Mask?

After using the surgical mask, it must be removed correctly. Otherwise, risky situations may arise in terms of health. When removing the surgical mask;


  • You should never touch the fabric. You should not remove the fabric by holding it from the front or the top.

  • If the mask you are using is elastic, you should remove it by holding the elastics.

  • If the mask has a rope, you should remove it by holding the ropes from the neck and head.

  • You should throw the mask you removed directly into the trash. Throwing the mask in public areas or on the ground will endanger the health of others.

  • Make sure to wash your hands and face after removing your mask and throwing it away. Do not forget to disinfect your nose and mouth correctly.



We must choose the mask correctly to prevent the spread of the corona virus and to protect ourselves. After choosing the right mask, we should use the mask as approved by the Ministry of Health. After using the mask during the day, we should remove it correctly and throw it in the trash directly. You should not forget that the use of surgical masks is very effective in saving the life of both you and those around you.